Curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1.906.

R MADISON. CURTAIN FASTBNER FOR VBSTIBULE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZB. 1906.

J/VVE/VTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK L. MADISON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CURTAlN-FASTENEIR FOR VESTIBULE-CARS- Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

lpplication filed May 28, 1906. Serial No. 319.144.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. MADI- SON, a citizen of the United States, residinglarly to fasteners of that design adaptedto release the curtains when the cars are accidentally uncoupled, as when they pull apart .or when the cars are uncou led by the brakeprove and simplify devices of this character,

so as to lessen the cost of manufacture and reduce the number of parts, to permit the ourtains to be readily detached under emergency conditions, and to enable the curtains to be connected to the fasteners in a very simple and expeditious manner.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement ofparts described hereinafter in connection with the accom anying drawings and set forth with particularity in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a side viewof the end portions of two vestibule-cars with the curtain and its fastening device therefor. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 .of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the fastener, taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fastener.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughoutby similar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the end frames of two vestibules of adjacent cars, these beingof any approved construction. On the 'frame 2 is arranged a curtain 3, having a roller of the spring-actuated type, as usual. Anyapproved curtain may be employed, since the details thereof are not essential to the present invention. Attached to the curtain-rod 4 are any number of loops 5, three being shown in Fi 1, although a less number may be employe The frame 1 carries as many fastening devices as there are loops on the curtain. Each fastener comprises a supporting-plate 6, that is adapted to be attachedto the frame 1 by screws or other fastening devices 7. The plate is provided with a rectangular opening 8 for receiving the hook 9, that is adapted to hold the loop of the curtain adjacent thereto. The hook 9 extends through the opening 8 into a socket 10 in theframe 1,"and attached to the lower end, as at 11, is a helicabcompression-spring 12, that is anchored at the end opposite'from 11 to the bottom of the base-plate by a suitable fastening, (indicated at 13.) By this means the hook is yieldingly maintained in its normal position and is permitted to be depressed about its pivot 14. The side of the hook PI'GSBIFGQQPOJLIG curtain is provided with a shoulder 15, that is ada ted toabut the base-plate 6 at one end of t e o ening. This shoulder serves as a sto for limiting the movement of the hook un er the action of the spring.

As shown in Fig. 2, the wall 16 of the hook is curved outwardly from a point 17 where the loop normally engages iton a graduallyincreasing radius. This permits-of a gradually-increasing leverage aboutthe pivot of ,the hook as the hook moves from its normal position to itsreleasing position, as shown by dotted lines. In other words, after the hook begins to yield under an excessive strain exerted by the curtain the loop moves along in an outward direction over the wall 16 toward the point of the hook, thereby exerting a greater pull on the hook and insuring a quick release. If the strain is only momentary, the hook will yield to a, limited extent. and then return to normal position before the curtain is released.

Arranged in front of the hook is a hookshaped keeper or guard 18, which operates to prevent the loop from being accidentally unooked by lateral displacement. The base 19 of the hook is dovetailed section, as shown in Fig. 3, and is guided in a longitudinal direction, by a correspondingly-shaped erates to yieldingly maintain the guard in engagement with the hook 9. The outer surface of the guard is so curved and the point 22 thereof so located with respect to the point of the hook as to form an expanding entrance between the two, as shown at 23, Fig. 2. This facilitates the hooking of the curtain-loo 5, since by mere lateral pressure on the 00p after the latter has been placed in the osition shown by dotted lines the hook anf guard will slightly yield or move a art and permit the loop to enter between tliem, after which the parts will return to their normal positions, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to un- Hook the loop, the guard is moved away from the hook against the tension of its spring, thus permitting the loop to be moved out of the fastener.

I The tension of the spring that weights the hook 9 is preferably such that the hook is maintained in its normal position until the curtain-spring has been wound up to a safe point, after which the hook yields and permits the curtain to be released before damage can be done to any of the parts. To insure a positive release of the curtain and to relieve the curtain-springs of any possible danger of being broken, it may be desirable in some cases to provide devices for limiting the extent of opening or unwinding of the curtains. One simple manner of doing this is to provide flexible stop-straps, such as are indicated at 24:, Fig. 2, that are attached to thecuItain-rod 4 at one end and to a suitable part of the frame 2 at the other. These permit thecurtains to wind and unwind during the'relative change in position of the cars under normal conditions. When, however, the pull on the curtains exceeds normal, as by the uncoupling of the cars before the curtains are unfastened, the strain is transferred to the stop-straps which upon becoming taut subject the pull upon the hooks 9 of the fasteners, whereupon the latter release the curtains. 7

I have described the princi le of operation of the invention, together witli the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What is claimed is v 1. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars, the combination of a curtain and automatic roller mechanism therefor mountiad upon one car, with'a fastening means for the curtain on the other'car, said means comprising ahook, a guard movable independently of the hook, and means for urging the hook and guard toward each other and permitting them to be moved apart.

2. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars,

the combination of a curtain, an automatic roller mechanism therefor which is attached to one of the cars, and a loop on the curtain, with a fastening device for engaging the loop, said device comprising a base-plate mounted on the adjacent car, a hook pivoted thereon provided with a curved surface that increases in curvature from a point of normal engagement of the loop to the point of the hook, and means for yieldingly weighting the hook.

8. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars, the combination of a curtain, an automatic roller mechanism therefor which is attached to one of the cars, and a loop on the curtain, with a fastening device for engaging the loop, the same comprising a base-plate, a hook mounted thereon, a slidable guard on the base-plate which cooperates with the hook, and separatesprings for the hook and guard.

4. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars, the combination of a curtain, an automatic roller mechanism therefor which is' attached to one of the cars, and a loop on the curtain, with a fastening device for engaging the loop, the same comprising a base-plate provided with an opening and a guide-groove extending 'therefrom, a hook pivoted in the opening, a guard for the hook mounted in the guide-groove, an extension-spring controlling the slide, and a compression-spring controlling 'the hook.

5. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars, the combination of a curtain, an automatic roller mechanism therefor which is attached to one of the cars, and a loop on the curtain, with a fastening device for engaging the loop, the same comprising a base-plate provided withan opening and a guide-groove extending therefrom,a hook pivotally mounted in the opening of the base-plate and provided with a stop adapted to engage the latter at the end of the opening, a spring for actuating the hook, and a guard mounted and movable independently of the hook.

6. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars, the combination of a curtain, an automatic roller mechanism therefor which is attached to one of the cars, and a loop on the curtain,

with a fastening device for engaging the loop,

the same comprising a baselate, a hook on the base-plate, means for yie dingly op osin the movement of the hook, a hook-s ape guard yieldingly maintained in cooperative relation with the hook and arranged with its point below the point of the hook so as to form an entering-space between the hook and Hard, for theloop of the curtain, and means or mounting the guard on the base-plate.

7. In a curtain-fastener for vestibule-cars; the combination of adj acent vestibuleframes, a spring-roller curtain mounted on one of the frames, a fastener on the other frame for connecting with the free edge of the curtain, and a flexible element secured at one end to the frame to which the enrtain is myownl have hereto aflixed my signature in attached and at its other eml (ill(('ii to the the presence ot two witnesses.

curtain at the free etlge thereof for limiting w t y llillx .l\\DI the unwinding ot the ('llltttlll and eausing the R )1 R [I SON 5 fastening means on the other frame to I( itnesses:

lease the curtain. ROBERT REEL,

In'testiniony that l elaim the foregoing as Ron'r. E; (IRAs. 

